RIP Vishwesha Theertha Swami: Pejawar Mutt seer laid to rest, 3-day state mourning declared

For years Udupi—a small town in coastal Karnataka had been the centre of activities of the seers of various Ashta Mutts. But for Vishwesha Theetha Swami of Pejawar Mutt, Vidyapeetha in south Bengaluru turned out to be his favourite place as he spent a considerable part of his life there.

He set up the institution 65 years ago. Talking about his final resting place, his disciples say, Pejawar seer used to remind his disciples that he wanted to ‘listen to the hymns and sholakas eternally’ and pointed towards the sprawling lawn as the place of his final rest.

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. When Vishwesha Theertha Swami appointed a Muslim chauffeur to drive his car, a few inside Krishna Mutt and Hindu organisations criticised the move of the seer. However, he did not give a thought to it and remained firm on his stand.

The driver, Mohammed Arif, had this to say about the seer a few years ago: “Three members of my family had served as car drivers to Pejawar seer. Mohammed Akhir served for three years, Mohammed Mansoor for seven years and I served him for one and a half years,” said Arif.

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. One major reason why the Pejawar seer stands out among the Madhwa pontiffs is that he did not restrict himself to the community, but went beyond to become the undeclared leader of the larger Hindu fraternity.

His social service, especially his Dalit outreach, may have led to criticism from the orthodox among the Madhwa Brahmins. However, the pontiff ensured that his service did not violate the tenets of sainthood.

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. In January 2012, Vishwesha Theertha declared that he lived with the tag of “Dwandwacharya,” a banter he used on himself to say that the world always saw him as someone who straddled between contrasting thoughts.

“My confused person tag is because I have tried to respect (Hindu) religion and the Constitution,” the seer had said.

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. The government has declared a three-day state mourning till December 31 as a mark of respect to Pejawar Mutt seer Vishwesha Theertha Swami, who breathed his last in Udupi, on Sunday morning.

. A pall of gloom descended on Pejawar Mutt on Car Street when 88-year-old Mutt senior Pontiff Viswesha Theertha Swami, who was suffering from breathing problem and pneumonia, breathed his last at 9.20 am on Sunday, in Udupi.

. People from all walks of life have condoled the death of Pejawar seer Vishwesha Theertha Swami.

. For years Udupi—a small town in coastal Karnataka had been the centre of activities of the seers of various Ashta Mutts. But for Vishwesha Theetha Swami of Pejawar Mutt, Vidyapeetha in south Bengaluru turned out to be his favourite place as he spent a considerable part of his life there.

. Senior pontiff and Pejawar seer Shree Vishwesha Theertha Swami breathed his last on Sunday morning after multiple organ failure. With his demise, India has lost one of its most loved and compassionate voices. He was 88.

. As the news of the demise of Pejawar Mutt seer Vishwesha Theertha Swami came in, a pall of gloom descended on Kodagu district, as the people and various religious institutions in the district shared a special emotional bond with the seer.

. Pejawar Mutt seer Vishwesha Theertha Swami has played a pivotal role in providing electricity connections, drinking water connections, road development and assistance to education of children hailing from tribal communities at Maoist-affected areas in Chikkamagaluru.

. Vishwesha Theertha Swamiof Pejawar Mutt who passed away on Sunday had a miracle escape in a car accident that took place near Tuntapur village in Raichur taluk in 1997.

The seer was seriously injured in the mishap as the car in which the pontiff was traveling, toppled.

. Full state honours were accorded to Pejawar Seer Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji in the Vidyapeetha in Bengaluru.

. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman joined a sea of mourners at the National College grounds here in paying their last respects to Pejawar Math head Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji, who passed away on Sunday. The Finance Minister is a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka.

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, deputy chief minister Govind Karjol and Karnataka revenue minister R Ashoka also paid their homage. The body of the 88-year-old seer, who passed away in Udupi earlier in the day, was flown to Bengaluru in a special Indian Air Force helicopter.

. Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji of Pejawar mutt was a Hindu pontiff who projected himself as a liberal face despite his strict Brahmanical priesthood as he dedicated his entire life for the propagation of Hindu dharma.

He was strongly rooted in Hindu causes such as protection of cow and played an active role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Yet, he boldly organised Iftar for Muslims during Ramzan at the ancient Sri Krishna Math complex in Udupi.

Vishwesha Theertha, who died aged 88 in Udupi after a brief illness on Sunday, was socially active and had reached out to Dalits with his visits to their colonies even as he carried on his spiritual activities with equal vigour and endeared thousands of devotees with his inclusive approach during his eight decades of sainthood.

. A host of leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, condoled the death of Pejawar math head Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji on Sunday, recalling his service to society and hailing him as an epitome of humanity and kindness.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa were among the other prominent leaders who mourned the demise of the 88- year old seer who died in Udupi after a brief illness.

. The condition of Pejawar seer Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji remains very critical and there is a further decline in his health condition.

. VHP working President Alok Kumar said that Pejawar Seer Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji was a frontline leader of theRam Janmabhoomi movement.

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. Chopper ready at Adi Udupi helipad to airlift Pejawar's body. (DH Photo)

. Body of the late Pejawar seer at Ajjarakadu ground. (DH Photo)

. Police commissioner Bhaskar Rao inspecting preparations at National College ground in Bengaluru. (DH Photo)

. Body of the late Pejawar seer atAjjarakadu ground. (DH Photo)

. A timeline since December 20, the day when the latePejawar seer Vishwesha Theertha Swami fell sick.

He was Admitted to KMC, Manipal with suspected pneumonia. Seer remained critical and was on ventilator support. A team of doctors led by Dr Sudha Vidyasagar started treatment

December 21: Seer responds to treatment and condition was stable.

December 22: Team of doctors from Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru arrive to treat the seer.

December 23: AIIMS doctors were consulted to treat the seer.

December 24: Treatment continues and seer continues to remain critical and stable.

December 25: Seer continues to remain unconsious.

December 26: Sudden variation in the health condition of the seer and remains very critical.

December 27: Seer remains very critical and health starts deteriorating.

December 28: Doctors announce brain dysfunctional and the seer fails to respond to the treatment.

December 29: The seer was brought to Pejawar mutt from hospital in the morning andhis death was announced at 9.20 am.

(PTI)

. The arrangements going onat the Ajjarakadu ground. (DH Photo)

. Tight security has been arranged at Ajjarakadu Mahatma Gandhi district ground. A total of 750 police personnel including Superintendent Of Police, 1 ASP, 14 DySPs, 36 SIs, 70 ASIs have been deployed at the venue. (DHNS)

. A view of the ritual. (DH photo)

. A view of the ritual. (DH Photo)

. MLA Raghupathi Bhatsaid that the body will be kept for public homage at Ajjarakadu Ground from 10 am to 1 pm.Chief minister B S Yediyurappa will pay homage at Ajjarakadu ground. Rituals related to bathing the seer and offering aarathi Will be performed at the mutt. After 1 pm, the body will be airlifted to Bengaluru. The body will be kept at National college ground.

. CM Yediyurappa announces 3 days mourning, all state respects to be paid to the seer. He said that he has had the luck to receive hisblessings for many years and hastaken his advice regularly.The country and state has lost agreat soul. He consecrated the Ram Mandir and wanted to see Ram Mandir being built in Ayodhya, the Supreme Court also decided that the temple is to be built but he unfortunately is now not alive to see the temple being built now.

. After doctors from KMC, AIIMS tried hard to save the seer but Krishna had different plans and took him away from us. He wished to see the Ram Mandir being built. Crores of devotees are sad about his passing away. He has served society for several decades now, says BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje.

. Pejawar seer's discipiles reciting Vishnu Sahasranama.

. Photo from inside Pejawar Mutt.

. The seer's 'purvashrama' (before sanyasa)relatives including his sisterVasanthi arrive at the mutt.

. PejawarMutt Seer Vishwesha Theertha Swami's treatment will continue in Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt. All arrangements of ventilator and ICU units kept ready in Mutt. (ANI)

. Pejawar seer Vishwesha Theertha wishedto breathe his last at the mutt and hence has been brought to the mutt with life support, saysBJP MP Shobha Karandlaje. She further added that Sri Krishna can perform miracles to satisfy our wishes of him living beyond 100 years.

. Devotees throng the Mutt, police blocking all eight entry to thepremises. People climb terraces to have a glimpse of the happenings at the Mutt. Mutt workersonly allowed amid tight security. Devotees asked not to come to the Mutt, reports TV9.

. All four gates leading to Udupi temple sealed.Shop owners who owned shops in car street were sent back and asked to return after 10 am.

. A teary-eyed former union minister and BJP Vice President Uma Bharti arrives at Pejawar Adhoksha mutt and refuses to talk to mediapersons.

. Vishwesha Theertha Swamispeaking at Na Krishnappa condolence programme organised by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at Kuvempu Kalakshetra in Bengaluru. (DH filephoto)

. Pejawar mutt junior pontiff Vishwaprasanna Theertha Swamiji said that according to the wishes of the senior Pejavar mutt pontiff Sri Vishwesha Teertha swamiji, he will be taken to Krishna mutt on Sunday.

Junior pontiff Vishwaprasanna Theertha Swamiji told media persons on Saturday evening that there was no indication of improvement in Pejawar seer’s health. “The doctors had clarified that the chances of his recovery were bleak. Thus instead of keeping him in the hospital, it was decided to shift him to the mutt. All of us want the seer to be in Krishna Mutt until his last breath. The seer with ventilator support will be shifted to the mutt. The expert doctors will continue the treatment in the mutt,” Vishwaprasanna Theertha Swamiji said.The seer will not be shifted to other hospitals for further treatment. Already experts from AIIMs and KMC had tried their level best to treat Pejawar seer, he added.

. Former Union minister Uma Bharathi, who is also the disciple of Pejawar seer Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji, visited the KMC Hospital in Manipal where the seer is undergoing treatment.

Speaking on the occasion, she said “ the Pejawar seer is one of the greatest sages. He is not only my guru but equal to my father. The society needs the guidance of the seer. I will pray for the recovery of Pejawar seer. I have been staying in Udupi for the last seven days.”

. PejawarmuttseerSri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji with Baba Ramdev. (DH file photo)

. K N Guruswamy garlands Vishwesha Theertha Swami of Pejawar at Ragi Gudda Anjaneya Temple function. (DH Photo)

. Vishwesha Theertha SwamiofPejawar,BJP leader L K Advani,Eye specialist Dr M C Modi and Shivarudra Swamiof Beli Matha at meeting organised by Sri Rama Janma Bhumi Nyas Manch in Bangalore. (DH file photo)

. R Venkatarama President of India interacts with Vishwesha Theertha Swami of Pejawar Muth in Bengaluru. (DH file photo)

. Pejawar seer Vishweshatheertha Swami, on Thursday, warned of staging an indefinite hunger strike if either community held victory procession or resorted to violence post-Ayodhya verdict.

RIP Vishwesha Theertha Swami: Pejawar Mutt seer laid to rest, 3-day state mourning declared

Giving shape to Vidyapeetha brick-by-brick

Seer’s Muslim chauffeur drives down memory lane

Dalit outreach that didn’t violate tenets of sainthood

His thought duality often saw him walk the tightrope

3-day state mourning declared for Pejawar seer

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